PORT VILA – The search for the next generation of Vanuatu football talent is underway just days after the national team ended its 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa campaign with an upset 2-1 win over Fiji.

Over fifty youngsters took part in a Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) training camp in Port Vila this week as a direct result of last year’s successful TVL sponsored youth tournament.

The players – all in the U-17 age group –  and integrated into the elite football development programme at the Academy of Teouma took part in a series of technical assessments designed to determine players likely to make the next step to age group selection.

The tests that engaged technique, speed assessments and plymetric jumping put the group through its paces before a series of technical training sessions and trial games took place from which the train-on squad was selected.

 

Under the control of John Philemon and Moise Poida, the train-on squad is sponsored by the UNELCO Company of Port Vila.

The next training camp is confirmed for December, with more players coming from the outer islands.

The TVL youth tournament proved a successful method of identifying talent usually unnoticed in the outer islands and far-flung provinces.

However, the VFF coaches will still go to the principal islands of Vanuatu during October to cast their selection net even further afield.

“For an equitable development of football in the country, it is of primary importance to give a chance to all the children, including those of the most distant islands,” a spokesperson for VFF said today.

The VFF spokesperson said with the support and co-operation of its provincial associations and partners UNELCO and TVL companies that a proactive search for the next generation of talented footballers in Vanuatu will lead to widespread benefits not only for football, but in also in terms of infrastructure, education and social responsibility initiatives.

A train-on squad was selected by Philemon John and Moise Poida.

Vanuatu U-17 train-on squad

Goalkeepers

Shem Harrisson, Cheval Eric, Steven Simon, MacKenzie Jeffry

Defenders

 Kapere Clovis, Malwosi Ramses, Vava Junior, Maleb Etienne, Namuli Fabien, Kaltak Bryan, Roqara Nemani, Makito Malakai, Massinga Solo, Tom Terry, Tari Gildas

Midfielders

Steven Salas, Rory Kito, Meltecoin Octave, Chabod Pascal, Tasso Jackson, Joseph Simo, August Yvon

Forwards

Lolten Steve, Sumaki Bryan, Visi Romarick, Hinge Lucien, Mermer Fernando, Willy Jimmy, James Joseph

Story and photograph courtesy www.vanuafoot.com